Lithuania decided to defend itself against Russia with “Spanish horses”

The head of the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense proposed strengthening the security of the border with Russia, using, among other things, anti-tank hedgehogs, “dragon teeth” (as on the border with Estonia) and “Spanish horses,” as well as providing border guards with machine guns.

Lithuania needs to speed up the strengthening of the border with Russia, said Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas, claiming that he has already agreed with the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Agne Bilotaite, on comprehensive measures.

“More energy is needed for countermobility measures to appear in late summer and early fall. <…> We think about reinforced concrete hedgehogs, “dragon teeth”, “Spanish horses”. <…> Money is planned for this, we just need to speed up the procedures,” Kasciunas said in the Seimas (quote from Delfi).

What is meant by the term "Spanish horses" is not specified.

In addition to engineering solutions on some sections of the border, the ministers propose to provide border guards with heavier weapons as soon as possible. “We will also look at how, through joint efforts, we can begin to more intensively implement the military standards of structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs that can combat hybrid threats. For example, the structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will have slightly heavier weapons, starting with machine guns,” added Kasciunas.

Bilotaite later confirmed her intentions to strengthen border security, noting the need to strengthen the border service and its interaction with the army. This is how she commented on the border guards’ proposal to close access to Lithuanian residents and tourists to some sections of the border with Russia.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Kasciunas also proposed strengthening air defense through the acquisition of new medium- and short-range systems, and at the same time purchasing tanks, gradually increasing the group from a tank company to a battalion. This is what he proposes to do within the current budget. “Maybe we will agree on such financing that everything can be done at once,” explains Kasciunas.

The Lithuanian Armed Forces noted that the minister's proposal is in line with the decisions taken by the State Defense Council. The country's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis assessed Kasciunas' proposal as rational. “[Air defense] is the most missing resource in  NATO as a whole today. <…> We are not retreating from tanks, we continue to tighten our division, but this is according to the extended calendar. But we can wait for tanks, and we need air defense today,” he emphasized (quoted from LRT).

In January, the Baltic states agreed to build a “defense line” along their borders with Russia, which would include concrete bunkers to protect troops from artillery fire and shell fragments. Estonia last November began installing concrete blocks, known as “dragon teeth,” at the Narva border crossing with Russia, citing a worsening migration situation.

The Kremlin stated that Russia does not pose a threat to Europe, but vice versa. Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that  the EU , being a “continent controlled by the United States of America,” participates in NATO, “which is moving with all its military might to our borders.”